Welcome to the CKF/SB6 Newsletter

April 2016

 

Outdoor Play! That's the Way!

Spring has sprung and it's time to head outdoors! Play is a big part of healthy growth and development for both babies and toddlers. Play helps your child learn and develop language skills, social skills (such as cooperation and sharing), and physical and thinking skills. Playing outdoors allows children to learn even more. 
 
Babies: Outdoor play helps your baby learn about their surroundings and feel comfortable with the world around them.
 
Try these ideas for outdoor play:
  • Tummy time on a towel or blanket
  • Crawling on the grass
  • Listening to birds    
Toddlers: The great outdoors allow toddlers to explore and have more room to try out their developing physical skills. These ideas are fun and full of learning.
  • Throwing or chasing balls
  • Running, jumping, twirling
  • Jumping in puddles
  • Making mud pies
  • Looking for bugs
For more ideas, check out Healthy Families BC and HealthLinkBC

Gardening with Kids: How It 
Affects Your Child's Brain, Body and Soul
By Nimali Fernando, MD, MPH and Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP Emotional Health, Family Life, Science.

Here are some great reasons to spend some of your outdoor time in the garden with the kids. 

One study showed that children who participated in gardening projects scored higher in science achievement. When children participate in gardening, the fruits and vegetables that they are inspired to eat will no doubt have a positive effect on their body. But the act of gardening itself can also promote a healthy body.In this electronic age, kids need time for meaningful family connection. Time in the garden allows for team building and promotes communication skills. Read more.

A Playful Approach to Discipline
Dr. Gordon Neufeld discusses the root causes of problem behaviour and their surprisingly playful solutions in part one of a two-part editorial on discipline,

Mary Thomas Memorial ECE Scholarship
BCACCS offers one $1000 scholarship for eligible Basic ECE students and one $1500 scholarship for eligible Post-Basic ECE students. The goal is to recognize and reward two Aboriginal ECE students each year for the highest overall achievement including; academic standing (at an approved educational institution and ECE program within British Columbia), outstanding accomplishments, volunteer work, community involvement, references, history of the applicant, as well as their ongoing commitment to childcare. Find out if you are eligible. The deadline for submissions is July 31, 2016.  More info.


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The ASQ Regional Project


Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) provides a quick check on children's development. Parents know their children best.That's why the questionnaires are designed to be filled in by them.  

Checking in on how a young child is growing and learning helps with healthy development and gets them ready for kindergarten. 
 
The goal of the ASQ Regional Project is to provide all families in the South Okanagan and Similkameen with children under 6 years old the opportunity to check in on their children's development. Our focus is on ages 2 and 3, so that there is plenty of time to get ready for kindergarten.

Each community will have its own implementation plan. Oliver and OK Falls are the first communities to move forward with implementation. If you live in Oliver, have children 5 years old or younger and are interested in ASQ, see click here. Here is the contact for similar families in OK Falls.

For more information on the Regional Project, contact Lynn Cook or Patricia Tribe